Automatic valve



Apr. 17, 1923.

J. SANDILANDS AUTOMATIC VALVE Filed Aug. 9, 1921 w. mxw l INVENTR nels.

Patented ipr. l?, l923.

entre strates erica.

Application ined anges: 9, 192i.

'/"0 .f1/ZZ 117mm. it may concer/nf.'

lle it known that l, JAMES Siinnimiiins,

of the city of Toronto, in the county of York,`

Province ot Gntario, Canada, a subject of the -liing ot' Great Britain, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Automatic Valves, o'l" which the following 's a specification. y

This invention relates to valves which are adapted, after being openedl to close automatically after a longer or shorter interval, and my objectV .is to devise a valve of this typein which the pressure ot one i'luid is adapted to control the flow oi' another iuid, or oi the same lluid in different chanl attain my object by means ot the' con- Istructions liereinatter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. l is a longitudinal section ot the valve; and

Fig. Q a similar view of part of the'same showing the parts in a different position.

In the drawings like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

l is a valve casing in which is provided the main chamber 2, with which communicates the inlet chamber 3 by means of the opening 4 surrounded by a `valve seat 5.`

`the main chamber is materially reduced in area. A second movable member 7 is provided, also exposed to the pressure of' the fluid within the main chamber. This member is preferably formed as a piston longitudinally movable in a cylinder 8 formed in the casing. A flexible diaphragm 9 suitably connected with the casing and the member 7 serves to prevent any leakage past the member 7. To the member? is connected the valve 10, the stem of which passes through an opening l1 forming a communication between L the inlet chamber l2 and the fluid outlet chamber 13 formed in the casing. A valve seat is formed at the underside oi' the opening, which `the valve l engages to close the communication be- Serial No. 431,031.

tween the two chambers. Thisl valve is provided with a stem ll movable in the guide i5. ln the main chamber is -fulcrumed a lever l?" of the first order. The ends of this lever are pivotally connected with links 47 pivotally connected with the members (i and 'l'. The movements of the members .3 and 7 are therefore necessarily simulta* neous and in opposite directions. The move- 1 ment of the members to open and close the a check valve 20. ln the wall ot' the inlet chamber is formed a by-pass`2l having a restricted opening 22 into the main chamber, and also opening by mea-ns ot' a port or ports 23 and port or ports 24 into the inlet chamber. In the preferred arrangement the oy-pass is an annular passage, and the ports 211i aret'ormed of a pluralityof holes, while the port 28, adjacent the opening 1l, is' annular in form. Themember 6, it will be noted, is so positioned that when it is seated against the valve seat lit closes the port 23 andv opens the portsl. Water from the inlet chamber may thus flow through the by-pass and through the restricted openingQQ intothe main chamber. As the 'member moves away` from the valve seat 5 it 'opens the port QBand closesV the ports 2l. rlhe capacit-y of flow through the restricted opening is controllable by means ot the needle valve 25, which is threaded through the side of the casing, and is provided with a screw driver slot at its `outer end. A screw cap 26 is preferably provided so that the valve is not likely to be meddled with except lay-skilled persons acquainted with the operation ol the valve.

The operation of the parts of the device just described is as follows.` The main chamber is normally full of fluid and the member 6 inthe position shown in Fig. l. lit, now, exit be provided for uid from the main chamber, fluid under pressure may enter the inlet chamber 8, thus pressingthe member 6 up towards the position shown in Fig 2. As soon as the ports 24 are uncovered, the iluid passes through the bypass' into the main chamber and tends to restore the pressure therein as soon as the venting of fluid from the mam chamber ceases.` lt is evident that as soon as the pressure in the main chamber rises to slightlyfabove one-half the pressure in the inlet chamber, both the `members 6 and 7 will begin tomove outwardly, since the area of these members exposed to the pressure in the main chamber is about double that of the area of the mem- `ber exposed to thel pressure in the inlet chamber 3. As soon, however, as the member 6V moves very slight distance away from the valve seat its area, which is ef;- posed tothe pressure in the main chamber, is considerably increased. At the same time, oi'ving to the opening of the port 23, a

materially7 'freer flow of' fluid is provided for between the inlet chamber and the main chamber. The result is that avery rapid i movement of the members 6 and 7 at once vbe ventedv from the control chamber.

taires place and the valve 10 is rapidly closed. This rapid movement of' the valve 1Q is particularly. important when the device is used to control ak ,cias supply. While, for some purposes, fluid .may be vented from the main `chamber byiany suitable manually operated drain cock, I prefer, when the device is to beused with a gas heater, to provide vautomatic control, so that :the valvelO, after it has been opened, will be automatically closed againafter thelapse of a predetermined interval of time. For this purpose I provide a control chamberl 27. This Will usually be a glass cylinder so thatthe liquid level therein Amay beiobserved. This chamber is supported on a suitable casing` 28, and is .in communicationwith the valve chamber 29 in the casing by means of the passage-Way 30. This valve chamber is connected with the main chamber by means of a pipe 31 connected With the respective chambers by` means of ordinary couplings 32, In the coupling, adjacent the valve chamber 29, `a check valve 33 ispreferablyprovided. The chamber 29 lhas an'outlet 34 therefrom, the opening@` bel tween the chamber and the port being I control chamber have been vented, the pressure in the main chamber 2 Willnot rise sufficiently to cause the closing movement of thevalve l() until-the control chamber has been refilled to the ordinary level, andl thereafter the floivinto the control chamber stopped. To stop the flow `of liquid into-the flow chamber lWhen a predetermined level has been reached I provide a float valve adapted to close the passage 30. This float valve comprises the valve plug 38 of the Fuller type ladapted to close thepassage- Way from its lower side. The stem of this valve is connected with a rod 39, to the upper end of which is connected a cross bar 40 connected to the annular float 41. This float is guided on a tube 4-2 extending up from the bottom of the control chamber. Slots 43 are formed in the upper endof this tube to guide the cross bar 40. The upper end of the chamber is, of course, open to the atmosphere. f

Vhile this device is mainly applicable for gas heaters to enable the opening of the gas valve to be controlled from any desired point and to automatically close the valve, after a predetermined time, the device may be used in connection With fiushing tanks to take the place of ordinaryv flushometers. It is also evident that various details ofthe Construction may be changed Without departing from thespirit of my invention, and that changes may be made in the proportions of various parts tomeet any given circumstances. For instance, the rate of closing of the valve l() may Ibe varied Within wide limits by varying' the proportions of' the mov able members 6 and 7, by adjusting the needle valve 25 or varying the proportions of the valve seat 5, the ports and the by-pass.

I."Vhat I claim as my invention is l. In an automatic valve, the combination of a main chamber; an inlet chamber communicating by means of an opening with the main chamber; a member movable in the inlet chamber adapted to close said opening; a secondmovable member exposed to the pressure oi' fluid Within the main chamber; means connecting the movable members whereby their movements are necessarily simultaneous and in opposite directions; a by-pass. having' a restricted 'opening' vinto the main chamber and tivo ports into the inlet chamber, the first adjacent the open infr betW-eenithechambers yand the second remote therefrom, the first movable member .beine ada )ted 'to' close the first 'Jort substantially simultaneously with the openingr betweenthe tivochambers and to closevthe second port when moved to uncover the first port; means for ventingthe pressure in the main chamber; and a valve controllable by the movement of ther second movable member. j v

2. An automatic valve constructedas set forth in claim l in which the inlet chamber is a cylinder and the first mentionedmovable member is a piston valve movable in the chamberA and the openingis provided with a valve seat contactible bythe valve and` whenA so contacted adapted to reduce the area of the pistoneXposedto the pressure Within the main chamber.

3,. In an automatic valve, the combination of a main chamber; an inlet chamber communicating by means of an opening with resinas the main chamber; a member movable in the inlet chamber adapted to close said opening; a second movable member exposed to the pressure ovlr liuid within the main chamber; means connecting the movable members .vhereby their movements are necessarily simultaneous and` `in opposite directions; means whereby when the'said opening;` is closed a restricted l'low is provided from one chamber to the other; and means whereby; when the lirst movable member is moved to open the opening, a relatively free llow is provided Yfrom the inlet chamber to the main chamber; means for venting the pressure in the main chamber; anda valve controllable by the movement oi tliesecond movable member.

e. ein automatic valve constructed as set t'orth in claim 3 in which the inlet chamber is a cylinder and the iirst mentioned movA able member is a piston valve 4movable in the chamberaml the opening); is ln'ovided with a valve seat contactible by the valve and .vhen so contacted adapted to reduce the area ol' the piston exposed' to the pressure within the main chamber.

ln an automatic valve, the combination ot a main chamber; an inlet chamber communicating by means ot' an opening; with the main chamber; a member movable in the inlet chamber adapted to close said opening; a second movable memberexposed to the pressure of fluid within the main cham-k ber; means connectingthe mov: ble members whereby their movements are necessarily simultaneous and in opposite directions; means whereby when the said opening` is closed a restricted llow is provided from one chamber to the other; and means whereby;`

when the lirst movable member' is moved to open the opening, a relatively tree flow is provided from the inlet chamber to the main chamber; a control cha viber communicating with the main chamber; a float valve adaptell to control said communication; and a drain valve whereby water may be withdrawn tri'im the chamber 6. ln an automatic val" e; the coi'nbination ol a main chamber; an inlet chamber communicating by means ol" an opening with the main chamber; a member movable in the inlet chamber adapted to close said opening; a second movable member exposed to the pressure ot fluid with the main chambe means connecting the movable members whereby their movements are .necessarily simultaneous and in opposite directions; means whereby when the said opening is closed a restricted flow is provided from one chamber to the other; a control chamber conimunicating with the main chamber; a float valve adapted to control said communication; and a drain valve whereby water may be witl'idrawn `from the chamber.

T. ln an automatic valve, the combination of a main chamber; an inlet chamber communicating by means ot an opening with the main chambema member-movable in the inlet chamber adapted to close said opening; a second movable member exposed to the pressure of liuid within the main chamber; Ymeansucoi'inecting themovable memliei.s"wliereby their movements are necessarily simultaneous andin yopposite direc-` tions; means whereby when said opening is closed a restricted llow is provided vfrom one chamber tothe other; means whereby when the said opening is open that area ol"` the first movable member exposed to the pressure in the main chamber is greater than when the opening isclosed; means tor venting, the pressure inV themain chamber; and a valve controllable by the movement ot the second movable member.

ln an automatic valve, the combination of a main chamber; an inlet chamber commnnicatinc` by means of an openingwith the main chamber; a member movable in the inlet chamber adapted to close said opening; :l second movable member exposed to they pressure ofluid within' the main chamber;

means connecting' the movable members whereby their movements are necessarily simultaneous and in opposite directions;

means whe: ebv` when the said opening is tion of a main chamber; an inlet chamber i communicating by means ot' an opening with the main chamber; a member movable in the inlet chamber adapted to close said opening; a second movable member exposed to the pressure of fluid within the main chamber; means connecting` the movable members whereby their movements are necessarily simultaneous and in opposite di.- rections; a by-pass having a restricted openingv into the main chamber'and two ports into the inlet chamber, the first adjacent the i opening; betweenthe chambers and` the second remote therefrom; the first movable member beingrjnadapted to close the first port substantially simultaneously with the openingr between the two chambers and to close y the second port `when moved to uncover the ilirst port; means Jfor varying; `the flow capacity of'said restricted opening; means for' venting the pressure in the mainv chamber; and a valve controllable by the movement ot the second movable member.`

l0. In an automatic valve; the combination of a main chamber; an inlet chamber communicating by means of an opening with the main chamber; a member movable in the inlet chamber adapted to close said opening; a second movable member exposed to the pressure of fluid within the main chamber; means connectingthe movable members whereby their movements are necessarily simultaneous and in opposite directions; means whereby whensaid opening is closed a restricted ilow is provided from one chamn ber to the other; means for regulatingI vsaid restricted flow; means whereby when the said openingT is Vopen the area of the Ytiret movable member exposed to the pressure in the main chamber is greaterthan when the .openingV is closed; means r'for venting` the.

pressure in the main chamber; and a valve lcontrollable by the movement of the secondl movable member.

l l11.111 an automatic valve, the` combination ot a main chamber; an inletichamber communi ating by means of an opening' with the main chamber; a member movable in the inlet chamber adapted to vclose saidopening; asecond movable member exposed to the pressure of'iuid within the `main chamber; means connecting, the movable members wherebyl their movements are necessarily simultaneous and in opposite directions; a by-pass between the two chambers7 the lirst movable member being adapted to open the by-pass when it closes the opening between the two'chambers; means for vent; ing the pressure in the main chamber; and a valve controllable by the movement ofthe second movable member.

l2. In an automatic valve, the combination of a main'chamber; an inlet chamber communicating by means of an opening; with the main eliamber; a'member movable in the inlet chamber adapted to close said open` day of J AMES SANDILANDS.

lv'itnesses JNO. L. SeHoLns, `H. E. HALL. 

